Monday, November 28, 2011

3D Brain

This is one of my favorite neuropsych apps. It allows you to view a 3D model of the brain, spin it around or over and over, and view structures like the lateral ventricles that are much easier to remember if you've seen them in 3D. Which, of course, you wouldn't be able to do in dissection because they're csf-filled spaces, unless you could take a cast of them... But I digress.

3D brain is free in the app store, It provides labels for different structures, plus text info that gives links to research related to the brain structure in question. Studying neuroanatomy would have to be enhanced with this tool. Revising neuroanatomy is fun with it too.

Thiis app is almost as exciting for the neuropsych geek as the recent fMRI research into female orgasm (see http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/237976.php for the researchers' account to the press, use google if you're interested in the participant's story, and if you're not inclined to blush).

This app isn't just a toy for the neuroanatomy nerd. It is also useful for talking about neuroanatomy to patients and their families - it helps put the location and type of their brain injury/stroke/tumour into perspective, and opens up opportunities for education in the feedback session. And that's what this blog is all about - how using apps can help us to help our patients better.